Ontario’s new COVID-19 restrictions include increased police powers, restricting gatherings
The Ontario government has unveiled several new COVID-19 restrictions aimed at curbing record-high cases in the province, including increased police powers, provincial border checkpoints and restricting outdoor gatherings.
Premier Doug Ford made the announcement at Queen’s Park Friday afternoon.
“We’re losing the battle between the variants and vaccines,” he told reporters.
Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We're losing the battle between the variants and vaccines," he told reporters.
“The reality is there are few options left.”
Ford announced an extension of Ontario’s state of emergency and stay-at-home order in line with recommendations made by doctors and scientists earlier in the day.
As part of the new restrictions, he said all non-essential construction and recreational facilities such as tennis courts and playgrounds.
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Solicitor General Sylvia Jones said the Manitoba and Quebec border checks will be effective as of 12:01 a.m. on Monday.
She also said officers will temporarily be allowed to ask people where people live and why they aren’t there. Jones said officers can issue a $750 ticket if the resident declines to respond to the questions.
The new restrictions came as the provincial government unveiled new projection data on Friday indicating the only way to flatten the surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations is a six-week stay-at-home order and at least 100,000 doses of vaccine administered a day.
According to the documents, there has been a 67 per cent growth in hospitalizations related to the virus and a 51 per cent growth in ICU occupancy.
Officials also noted under every scenario, more vaccinations mean a faster resolution to the COVID-19 crisis in the long run.
This is a developing story that will be updated throughout the day.
— With files from Jessica Patton and The Canadian Press
https://globalnews.ca/news/7764119/covid-ontario-restrictions-police-borders-gatherings/